EBS EBS-1v2 Preamp

I bought this amp about 1 year ago and I still haven't tried all the different settings. As mensioned, the controls are very sensitive, so now that I've found a sound that I am pretty satisfied with I don't want to mess it up by trying to improve the sound.

The preamp has one instr. input, gain control, compressor/limiter. It has a switch where you can bypass the preamp settings, select a quite good mix, or have your own mix.
It has a bright filter which I find very useful, it adds a crisp sound to your sound sort of. You can control low, mid and high with one knob to adjust level and one knob to adjust what frequency you adjust the level for. It also has a Mid q switch, I never really understood this thing. You can switch between low, high and middle MID sound.
The last knob is output. There are LED's for gain clipping, comp/limit, bright filter clipping, and output. At the frontpanel you also have a switch to turn the DI-output to pre or post eq settings, or off. (just by it you have a DI-output.)

In the back panel it has phones out, 2 outputs (for power-amp), remote output for footswitch I guess, 2 Crossover outputs (low & high), An effects-loop with one send and 2 returns (stereo) and a 10-switch dipswitch where you can fiddle with different filters, turn phanton powering on (more specific info in the manual at ebs' website.)

I am using a Tung 5-string bass with bartolini Active soapbars with a 3-band active preamp. I play a lot of different styles, mostly jazz and funk, but also a little metal (just for the heck of it). I have found a sound settings that suits all of the different bands I play in. Very clear sound with a lot of punch! The slap sound is probably the best (after my opinion). It does not have distortion, but if you turn the gain at output at full (close to) it growls and I like it. It sound natural. It sometimes makes a little hiss when you turn it up, but I think it's because i've been to close to the amp. The amp can make (i would say) any kind of sound due to its versatile eq.

This amp is very reliable. I've never had any sort of problems with it.

I've never had to deal with EBS, but there is a lot of info about the amp, and troubleshooting at their website. And I've heard that they're very helpful by all the other EBS-users i've talked to.

I love this preamp. I think I will keep it for a long time. And if i should sell it or trade it, it would just be for variations sake.

This is a very versatile pre-amp!
Gain, compressor/limiter and triband equalizing. For Low Mid High you can select a frequency and then boost it. It is not possible to cut.
That is different than my former amp, a SWR SM400.
The bright control gives the high highs some boost so it gives a very studio sound and feel. I have to get used to this new sound.

The mid filter has a switch for Lo -Q - Hi. This makes it possible to adjust the bandwith of the midrange.

This pre-amp is not the most easy one to understand. I think it will take me some time to get my own sound out of it. During testing(buying) this preamp I heared some excellent sounds and very bad ones. The knobs are reacting quick so careful use of boosting frequencies...


The SWR SM400 has a tube pre amp and this one doesn't. But this pre amp still offers enough warmth...

This version was build in 1993. This version two has some improvements on the frequencies of the filter.

In front it has a DI output with switch to send pre, post EQ or mute.
SWR had the DI on the back so this is a big improvement. Since I play a lot with PA's it is more easy to have it on the front.

It also have some features on the back:

crossover, hi pass low pass.
phones output
two outputs

And.... 10 dip switches. They are very tiny and fragile. They can be used to adjust filters, activate phantom power for an active bass (don't use this, if you play with your bass on another amp, it doesn't operate. Let's be independent so I still have my 9volt battery in my bass.)

It has a lot of different sounds in it I still have to discover. In practice I have just one funky style and some slap feel for gigs.
this preamp sounds great! Changing the filters just a little bit gives the sound another character.

I don't use effects while playing, it's just me, my bass and I!!

As I only have my old SWRSM400 as a reference, EBS sounds more christal clear and lows with more definition. THe bright control gives it a studio sound which I still have to get used to. Even if you put the bright control totally on does not sound hissy.

During live performances I don't think the crowd will hear, but I do!!



I use it with two EBS210 cabinets. Lows will come from the PA.

I never took a backup with me for amps.
I carried two basses to gigs for a while but never used the backup bass. So I stopped with it.

Should it fail we always have the PA to assist..

EBS is very supportive. I send a few mails and got reply within the same day!

Perhaps this pre amp is too good. The sound is so good that I still have to get used to it.

I use this with a 2x400 watt EBS amp. This means a very good combination of bass!